St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-06-16
UNEASY VERMONTERS.

Mr.. S. M. Stafford, writing from the
West to the New York Witness, offers
wise counsel to the restless against be-
lieving all they read of any locality,
selling at sacrifice and moving, fami-
ly and all. Of the disadvantage of this
course he is himself sad example 81
sold out at a great loss, came here, and
found everything just contrary to the
description which had been given me
by one whom l thought reliable. l am
personally acquainted with a number
served just as | was. If | had now
what | had before | left New York
state L would return next week. | can
do better there than here. So let me
say to the poor, do not sacrifice what
you now have. Go first and see for
yOurself."-[ New York Tribune.
The CaledOnian has many times call
ed attention to the fact that Vermont
ers owe it to themselves and to their
own state to stand by their native hills.
We do not pretend to argue that
there are not individual cases where
men may be and are better off to ego
West" but we insist upon it that many
who do go West not only do not better
their condition, but soon find them
selves in much worse condition in a
far country, among strangers, than
they were in Vermont. The above
clipping from the New York Tribune
is but one of many instances of like
nature that have come under our OBJ
servatiOn. An extract from the Brat
tlebOrO Phoenix on the third page
points in the same direction. The
reader will also recall Mr.. Pixley's ad-
vice to the intending land buyer in
California, as printed in these columns
some weeks ago, "nOt to purchase "a
single acre till he had been in the
country twelve-mOnth till he had
personally visited all parts of the
state," and Mr.. Stafford reaches the
same conclusion concerning the West
after a bitter and costly experience:
$50 let me say to the poor, do not sac
rifice what you now have. Go first
and see for yourself"
1t would be both interesting and
profitable to read the actual experience
of every man who has removed from
Vermont to the West during the past
10 years. Here and there would be the
brilliant successes, the large fortunes
accumulated then would come the
larger class who manage to "get along"
after the first struggles and incOnve-
nience that must necessarily accompany
the acclimatization of a New England
er in new country ; and then would
come the sad stories of the lives of
those who have failed, and who shall
decide which of the three classes in
clude the larger number? Men do not
object to having their friends at home
hear of success gained in new land,
but they do object to making public
their failures, and so the true story of
the Western settler is not always told
We have no desire to discourage
Eastern farmers and others in their eff
forts to do better, but we do desire to
have them act with moderation and
Judgment, to ego slow" else their lat
ter end may be worse than their first.
If the Vermonter, in these days of cheap
transportation, has not money enough
to go West and view the land before 60
ing there to settle, he had best not go
at all unless absolutely sure that en-
plOyment awaits him. AGO slow" in
many instances, will prove good COM
paniOn motto to ''Go West.n